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Not on the Menu
Romance with Zik was not on the menu.
On the menu were carefully plated dishes.
Not butterflies.
Not longing gazes.
Not replaying moments like a carousel.
And definitely not romance with my friend’s brother.
Or a younger guy.
So why did my stomach feel weird?
It had to be a stomach bug… right?
On the menu were carefully plated dishes.
Not butterflies.
Not longing gazes.
Not replaying moments like a carousel.
And definitely not romance with my friend’s brother.
Or a younger guy.
So why did my stomach feel weird?
It had to be a stomach bug… right?
- GenresAudiobook
Audible Audio
Published January 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
March 27, 2026
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing me with the Advanced Listening Copy (ALC) of this book. I was intentionally branching out into new genres, and this novel offered something different from my usual reading choices.
I am assigning this a 3-star rating, which is primarily based on two factors: the narration and the storyline connection.
The dual-perspective narration structure, which alternates between the female and male leads, was a strength, and I greatly enjoyed the back-and-forth dynamic it created. Specifically, the female narrator was excellent and captivating. However, I unfortunately found the male narration to be a significant drawback, which ultimately detracted from the overall listening experience.
Regarding the storyline, I struggled to connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level. Despite this, the central theme was handled well: the idea of falling in love when it was "not on the menu" for either protagonist was a touching exploration of finding romance and hope after both characters had suffered a significant loss.
If you are a devoted reader of this particular genre, I believe you will find much to appreciate in this novel. I remain encouraged and plan to continue exploring more titles within this space.
I am assigning this a 3-star rating, which is primarily based on two factors: the narration and the storyline connection.
The dual-perspective narration structure, which alternates between the female and male leads, was a strength, and I greatly enjoyed the back-and-forth dynamic it created. Specifically, the female narrator was excellent and captivating. However, I unfortunately found the male narration to be a significant drawback, which ultimately detracted from the overall listening experience.
Regarding the storyline, I struggled to connect with the characters on a deeper emotional level. Despite this, the central theme was handled well: the idea of falling in love when it was "not on the menu" for either protagonist was a touching exploration of finding romance and hope after both characters had suffered a significant loss.
If you are a devoted reader of this particular genre, I believe you will find much to appreciate in this novel. I remain encouraged and plan to continue exploring more titles within this space.
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Victory editing for the audio ARC
🎧 AUDIO BOOK REVIEW
I gave Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice 3 stars. As an audiobook, it definitely had one of my favorite elements — dual narration. I always love getting both perspectives, and the narrators really helped bring the characters and their personalities to life.
The story itself was cute and easy to listen to, with some sweet and fun moments that kept it enjoyable. That said, it didn’t really stand out in a big way for me. It was a nice, light listen, but not one that will stick with me long-term. Still, if you’re in the mood for something low-stress with solid narration, it’s a pleasant pick.
🎧 AUDIO BOOK REVIEW
I gave Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice 3 stars. As an audiobook, it definitely had one of my favorite elements — dual narration. I always love getting both perspectives, and the narrators really helped bring the characters and their personalities to life.
The story itself was cute and easy to listen to, with some sweet and fun moments that kept it enjoyable. That said, it didn’t really stand out in a big way for me. It was a nice, light listen, but not one that will stick with me long-term. Still, if you’re in the mood for something low-stress with solid narration, it’s a pleasant pick.
February 19, 2026
This book is not for me. I did not connect with the story nor the characters.
The writing felt clunky and the pacing was off (drawn out scenes without anything happening and then speeding up again when during important moments).
On top of that, the audio production sounded metallic and I did not like the male narrator’s voice (both in sound and in flatness).
As a different reviewer pointed out, the sparkle in the bottom right corner of the cover seemingly points to AI, especially in combination with an apparently very vague answer from the author.
Not a great look.
DNF @ 18%.
1.5 stars rounded down.
Read as an audiobook.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
The writing felt clunky and the pacing was off (drawn out scenes without anything happening and then speeding up again when during important moments).
On top of that, the audio production sounded metallic and I did not like the male narrator’s voice (both in sound and in flatness).
As a different reviewer pointed out, the sparkle in the bottom right corner of the cover seemingly points to AI, especially in combination with an apparently very vague answer from the author.
Not a great look.
DNF @ 18%.
1.5 stars rounded down.
Read as an audiobook.
I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.
February 9, 2026
⭐1.5
The was a big problem with pacing and repetition.
Things that didn't warrant in depth description got it and then things that could have used a tad more were breezed past.
I felt no real chemistry between the characters throughout.
If I heard about how he felt safe and like home one more time I was gonna lose it.
I can't say more about this story because a lot of it was affected by listening to the audiobook.
Listening to this as an audiobook was a big mistake, I think somethings that I would have let the story itself get away with was ruined by the audio book.
There was a pretty big problem cut in pacing narration wise, not all on the narrators, production likely played a part in this too.
With the narrator for Megan I could hear mouth sounds which really felt .. gahh, ya know? Also, the way it was read felt like she was making fun of the characters at all times, and it all felt very one note.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for giving me a Free Listen copy of the audiobook.
The was a big problem with pacing and repetition.
Things that didn't warrant in depth description got it and then things that could have used a tad more were breezed past.
I felt no real chemistry between the characters throughout.
If I heard about how he felt safe and like home one more time I was gonna lose it.
I can't say more about this story because a lot of it was affected by listening to the audiobook.
Listening to this as an audiobook was a big mistake, I think somethings that I would have let the story itself get away with was ruined by the audio book.
There was a pretty big problem cut in pacing narration wise, not all on the narrators, production likely played a part in this too.
With the narrator for Megan I could hear mouth sounds which really felt .. gahh, ya know? Also, the way it was read felt like she was making fun of the characters at all times, and it all felt very one note.
Thank you to Netgalley and Victory Editing for giving me a Free Listen copy of the audiobook.
February 13, 2026
This book was, erm, not for me I don't think. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own and bare no reflection on how others may feel about this book.
It was a cute, short read in many respects. I liked the fact that it was friends to lovers, he's a chef, and she's a photographer and after loosing his sister (her best friend) she's come to help him take pictures of his food for his up coming cook book.
But my goodness they went from... okay we're dating... to 'Babe' alot... to 'I love you' and my brain struggled a little to understand how we got there so fast. I know it was sort of like 'love was here all along' but it did seem like they were all of a sudden really open with each other.
There were some problems with the recording of the narration where it skipped in places, and repeated words in others. And I think I've heard so many great narrators now that the male narrator was giving me nothing - when describing the sexy scenes it's like he was just logging in for a day at the office! Very little emotion in his voice... when he said 'I groaned'... I wanna hear that groan!
The third act break-up was odd. She didn't want to be with him anymore because he was trying to pay her investment back to her? Like, why not just talk it out rather than walking away and being apart from each other for a month?
And dying her hair red after it all, classic post break-up move!
I'm glad that her Mam and Dad got back together, even though there was absolutely no back story to how and why they managed to sort things out - and to be honest her Mam seemed like a bit of a nightmare! And I'm really glad that her Dad got better.
But I think, for me, there was a lack of chemistry between the main characters, the story moved along very quickly without any sort of tension or yearning from either of the main characters. A quick and easy listen to keep your reading list moving for sure.
It was a cute, short read in many respects. I liked the fact that it was friends to lovers, he's a chef, and she's a photographer and after loosing his sister (her best friend) she's come to help him take pictures of his food for his up coming cook book.
But my goodness they went from... okay we're dating... to 'Babe' alot... to 'I love you' and my brain struggled a little to understand how we got there so fast. I know it was sort of like 'love was here all along' but it did seem like they were all of a sudden really open with each other.
There were some problems with the recording of the narration where it skipped in places, and repeated words in others. And I think I've heard so many great narrators now that the male narrator was giving me nothing - when describing the sexy scenes it's like he was just logging in for a day at the office! Very little emotion in his voice... when he said 'I groaned'... I wanna hear that groan!
The third act break-up was odd. She didn't want to be with him anymore because he was trying to pay her investment back to her? Like, why not just talk it out rather than walking away and being apart from each other for a month?
And dying her hair red after it all, classic post break-up move!
I'm glad that her Mam and Dad got back together, even though there was absolutely no back story to how and why they managed to sort things out - and to be honest her Mam seemed like a bit of a nightmare! And I'm really glad that her Dad got better.
But I think, for me, there was a lack of chemistry between the main characters, the story moved along very quickly without any sort of tension or yearning from either of the main characters. A quick and easy listen to keep your reading list moving for sure.
February 25, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️ || I enjoyed listening to this and the topics it concluded. The main points were literally two people realizing they’ve slowly fell in love with each other over the years, while both overcoming grief. I recommend it if that’s something you’re interested in!
April 22, 2026
“Not on the Menu” by Eddy Twice 🎧📘
🎧 Format: Audiobook
📚 Pub Date: 01.23.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️ Stars
“Not on the Menu” by Eddy Twice is a story about Megan, a young woman who is navigating life following the death of her best friend, Ada. Together they had created a “bucket list” that Megan set out to accomplish after Ada’s death. After she returns home, Megan reconnects with Ada’s younger brother, Zik. They are both bereft as they are each coming to terms with the recent loss of Ada.
I had trouble connecting with this story, and I’m not sure if it was because I listened to the audiobook version, or because I’m not much of a foodie and much of the book revolves around Zik’s restaurant business and his cooking.
I can’t quite put my finger on why this book didn’t appeal to me, but I do know that I struggled to feel the romance.
At one point in the book there was a big obstacle to them being together presented and it just felt so forced and illogical to me.
This book may resonate more with people who are “foodies” and can enjoy that aspect of the storyline better.
Additionally, for those who are interested, there were recipes at the end of the book that may appeal to those who want to try some of the Nigerian recipes that are mentioned frequently in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Eddy Twice & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to this Listener Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#NotOnTheMenu
#EddyTwice
#NetGalley
#VictoryEditingNetGalleyCoOp
🎧 Format: Audiobook
📚 Pub Date: 01.23.26
⭐️ Rating: ⭐️⭐️ Stars
“Not on the Menu” by Eddy Twice is a story about Megan, a young woman who is navigating life following the death of her best friend, Ada. Together they had created a “bucket list” that Megan set out to accomplish after Ada’s death. After she returns home, Megan reconnects with Ada’s younger brother, Zik. They are both bereft as they are each coming to terms with the recent loss of Ada.
I had trouble connecting with this story, and I’m not sure if it was because I listened to the audiobook version, or because I’m not much of a foodie and much of the book revolves around Zik’s restaurant business and his cooking.
I can’t quite put my finger on why this book didn’t appeal to me, but I do know that I struggled to feel the romance.
At one point in the book there was a big obstacle to them being together presented and it just felt so forced and illogical to me.
This book may resonate more with people who are “foodies” and can enjoy that aspect of the storyline better.
Additionally, for those who are interested, there were recipes at the end of the book that may appeal to those who want to try some of the Nigerian recipes that are mentioned frequently in the book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Eddy Twice & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for access to this Listener Review Copy. All opinions are my own.
#NotOnTheMenu
#EddyTwice
#NetGalley
#VictoryEditingNetGalleyCoOp
March 20, 2026
An okay read with a strong premise, 2.5 ⭐️
Not on the Menu had a really promising setup and I’m always down for a best friend’s brother / friends-to-lovers dynamic - and the added layer of grief and healing gave it the potential to feel quite emotional and meaningful. The food elements and restaurant setting were also a lovely touch and added a cosy atmosphere to the story.
However, while there were moments I enjoyed, the overall execution didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven, with some parts dragging and others moving too quickly, especially when it came to key emotional developments. This made it harder to feel fully invested in the relationship.
I also found the characters a bit difficult to connect with at times. Their actions and emotional responses didn’t always feel fully explored, which left certain moments lacking the depth I was hoping for. The story touches on heavier themes like grief, but I wanted a bit more nuance and consistency in how these were handled.
That said, it’s not without its charm. There’s a sweet, comforting quality to the romance, and readers who enjoy a softer, slower-paced story may get more out of it than I did.
Overall, this was an okay read with a strong premise, but it didn’t quite deliver the emotional impact or cohesion I was looking for.
Thank you to Eddy Twice, the publisher, and NetGallery for the ARL, it is much appreciated!
Not on the Menu had a really promising setup and I’m always down for a best friend’s brother / friends-to-lovers dynamic - and the added layer of grief and healing gave it the potential to feel quite emotional and meaningful. The food elements and restaurant setting were also a lovely touch and added a cosy atmosphere to the story.
However, while there were moments I enjoyed, the overall execution didn’t fully land for me. The pacing felt uneven, with some parts dragging and others moving too quickly, especially when it came to key emotional developments. This made it harder to feel fully invested in the relationship.
I also found the characters a bit difficult to connect with at times. Their actions and emotional responses didn’t always feel fully explored, which left certain moments lacking the depth I was hoping for. The story touches on heavier themes like grief, but I wanted a bit more nuance and consistency in how these were handled.
That said, it’s not without its charm. There’s a sweet, comforting quality to the romance, and readers who enjoy a softer, slower-paced story may get more out of it than I did.
Overall, this was an okay read with a strong premise, but it didn’t quite deliver the emotional impact or cohesion I was looking for.
Thank you to Eddy Twice, the publisher, and NetGallery for the ARL, it is much appreciated!
March 29, 2026
Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice
The purple cover art is AI generated.
Megan is Zik’s older sister’s best friend. Zik’s sister has recently passed. Megan has been ticking off a bucket list they made – with find love being the last item on her list. Zik is a chef – so lots of food talk in the story – has always had a crush on Megan.
I think the narrators are the reason I was not invested in this story. The narrators side characters are especially distracting. Some issues with the audio quality especially noticeable with the switch between narrators.
The worst things about Megan’s date with Liam was having to listen to the narrator’s interpretation of his voice.
Both the MCs let out breaths they didn’t know they were holding.
Best Friends Younger Brother, Friends to lovers, Grief, Chef, Complicated families.
Thanks to NetGalley and Eddy Twice for the ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The purple cover art is AI generated.
Megan is Zik’s older sister’s best friend. Zik’s sister has recently passed. Megan has been ticking off a bucket list they made – with find love being the last item on her list. Zik is a chef – so lots of food talk in the story – has always had a crush on Megan.
I think the narrators are the reason I was not invested in this story. The narrators side characters are especially distracting. Some issues with the audio quality especially noticeable with the switch between narrators.
The worst things about Megan’s date with Liam was having to listen to the narrator’s interpretation of his voice.
Both the MCs let out breaths they didn’t know they were holding.
Best Friends Younger Brother, Friends to lovers, Grief, Chef, Complicated families.
Thanks to NetGalley and Eddy Twice for the ARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
September 24, 2026
Megan is grieving her best friend while working through the bucket list she left behind, and one item, "fall in love," becomes a lot more complicated than expected when her best friend's younger brother enters the picture.
What I loved most was the slow burn. Megan and Dike have years of history, which makes their chemistry feel natural and earned. The Nigerian-fusion food and restaurant setting were also a highlight, the recipes and food descriptions made this such a sensory read.
Megan's relationship with her mother added another layer of emotional depth, and I appreciated how the book explored grief, healing, family, and love without making everything feel too easy.
A couple of plot points felt slightly forced, and the heavier grief/illness themes made the second half emotionally intense, but overall, this was a warm, heartfelt romance with plenty of food, feelings, and a satisfying slow burn.
What I loved most was the slow burn. Megan and Dike have years of history, which makes their chemistry feel natural and earned. The Nigerian-fusion food and restaurant setting were also a highlight, the recipes and food descriptions made this such a sensory read.
Megan's relationship with her mother added another layer of emotional depth, and I appreciated how the book explored grief, healing, family, and love without making everything feel too easy.
A couple of plot points felt slightly forced, and the heavier grief/illness themes made the second half emotionally intense, but overall, this was a warm, heartfelt romance with plenty of food, feelings, and a satisfying slow burn.
February 11, 2026
Not On The Menu is a fun romance that follows Megan, an aspiring photographer buried under the weight of expectations from her high-achieving family and the grief of losing her best friend Ava, and Zik a successful chef and Ava's little brother, who has been in love with Megan for as long as he can remember. A chef MMC is a chef is almost ALWAYS a win for me, and Zik did not disappoint!! The plot handled difficult themes well, and the pacing made it easy to get lost in the story. I love listening to Megan and Zik support eachother in their careers and with their grief, and to watch the relationship blossom authentically and (mostly) without drama... Both narrators have lively engaging voices, and capture the playfulness of Zik and Megan's relationship. The little recipe section at the end was a great touch, and I'm tempted to get a physical copy just so I can follow along with some of the delicious-sounding recipes from the book! Thank you to Victory Editing and Netgalley for this Advanced Listener Copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 11, 2026
This was very simple and sweet. It’s perfect for what I needed. Narrators were good. I received an arc from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2026
DNF at around 10%, the story just wasn’t gripping me and I didn’t really like the male narrator
May 20, 2026
I want to like this book. This is my 3rd book with the author. The first one (Pizza Man) I liked, the second one, Imperfectly Perfect, great premise not great execution was a meh for me. I was hoping this one would do it, but sadly no matter how many different cover you put on the front, it's the story that's not delivering.
Megan's from an uptight medical background. Her mom wants her to just be a mini me like the mother, and yet Megan broke the mold. She forges her way all thanks to her BFF, Ada and Ada's family that practically took her in. Ada's last wish is to wanted Megan to find love. The BFF's bro, Zik is there all along. So in theory, they spend time together, work together, and he bailed her out of a bad date, she kept going to his work, something should spark, right? Yet, there's no chemistry. Like she wasn't thinking he could be a prospect until her mom put that idea in her head. His actions all along had already said he likes her, but somehow it jumped from crushing to loving. The connection was just disjointed.
The pacing was fine, not great. The characters even the side characters were very flat. The premise is good, but the story was just not delivering. I want to like them, I want to go thru the rest of the journey, but I just can't.
I got the audio book, at first I was wondering if I didn't like the book because of the narrators, but that's not it. I liked the MC narrator, his acting was more natural, and the other voices he portrayed did the job fine. However, the FC's voice action seemed was forced. I will say, she did the snooty attitude just right. But there no depth on the other voices, they blend together too easily with no distinction. At some point, the accent kinda snuck in there with the wrong character's speech. Also, there seems to be some tech issues, I'm surprise the audio engineer didn't pick up, there were background noises on several spots (I believe with the FC's more), and there were spots will duplicate /repeat words. Kinda like a skip. At first, I thought it was my app or my CarPlay, but when I was at home or at the office, that happened too.
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC.
Megan's from an uptight medical background. Her mom wants her to just be a mini me like the mother, and yet Megan broke the mold. She forges her way all thanks to her BFF, Ada and Ada's family that practically took her in. Ada's last wish is to wanted Megan to find love. The BFF's bro, Zik is there all along. So in theory, they spend time together, work together, and he bailed her out of a bad date, she kept going to his work, something should spark, right? Yet, there's no chemistry. Like she wasn't thinking he could be a prospect until her mom put that idea in her head. His actions all along had already said he likes her, but somehow it jumped from crushing to loving. The connection was just disjointed.
The pacing was fine, not great. The characters even the side characters were very flat. The premise is good, but the story was just not delivering. I want to like them, I want to go thru the rest of the journey, but I just can't.
I got the audio book, at first I was wondering if I didn't like the book because of the narrators, but that's not it. I liked the MC narrator, his acting was more natural, and the other voices he portrayed did the job fine. However, the FC's voice action seemed was forced. I will say, she did the snooty attitude just right. But there no depth on the other voices, they blend together too easily with no distinction. At some point, the accent kinda snuck in there with the wrong character's speech. Also, there seems to be some tech issues, I'm surprise the audio engineer didn't pick up, there were background noises on several spots (I believe with the FC's more), and there were spots will duplicate /repeat words. Kinda like a skip. At first, I thought it was my app or my CarPlay, but when I was at home or at the office, that happened too.
Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC.
February 10, 2026
I received an Advanced Listener Copy from NetGalley, and this review is voluntary.
This story had all the right ingredients, but for me, the final dish didn’t fully come together. I loved the setup — grief, growth, and a best friend’s brother who’s been quietly in love with you for years? That’s a recipe I will always taste‑test. But somewhere between the emotional beats and the kitchen scenes, I found myself wanting more clarity and more connective tissue.
The Nigerian fusion element was charming, but I didn’t always understand how it fit into the characters’ journeys. It felt like a cute garnish rather than a fully developed flavor. And the pacing? Let’s just say some moments simmered beautifully, while others jumped from “we’re sautéing onions” to “the whole pot is boiling over” with no warning. In audio, those jumps were even harder to follow, and I caught myself rewinding trying to figure out how we got from point A to point… Zik.
Megan’s emotional evasiveness also tested my patience. I get being guarded — I am guarded — but sis was dodging feelings like she was training for the emotional Olympics. I needed a little more depth, a little more confrontation, a little more “let’s actually talk about this.”
Overall, it’s a heartfelt story with a meaningful premise, but I needed more detail and smoother transitions to stay fully immersed. Still, if you enjoy quiet, emotional slow‑burns with a dash of spice and a side of culinary charm, this might hit the spot for you.
This story had all the right ingredients, but for me, the final dish didn’t fully come together. I loved the setup — grief, growth, and a best friend’s brother who’s been quietly in love with you for years? That’s a recipe I will always taste‑test. But somewhere between the emotional beats and the kitchen scenes, I found myself wanting more clarity and more connective tissue.
The Nigerian fusion element was charming, but I didn’t always understand how it fit into the characters’ journeys. It felt like a cute garnish rather than a fully developed flavor. And the pacing? Let’s just say some moments simmered beautifully, while others jumped from “we’re sautéing onions” to “the whole pot is boiling over” with no warning. In audio, those jumps were even harder to follow, and I caught myself rewinding trying to figure out how we got from point A to point… Zik.
Megan’s emotional evasiveness also tested my patience. I get being guarded — I am guarded — but sis was dodging feelings like she was training for the emotional Olympics. I needed a little more depth, a little more confrontation, a little more “let’s actually talk about this.”
Overall, it’s a heartfelt story with a meaningful premise, but I needed more detail and smoother transitions to stay fully immersed. Still, if you enjoy quiet, emotional slow‑burns with a dash of spice and a side of culinary charm, this might hit the spot for you.
February 23, 2026
It was the title that grabbed me on this one; I was expecting something different. More banter, more back and forth, but it was a childhood friendship that turned romantic, a third-act breakup to fall back together. It was sweet and had some really cute moments, but there was nothing that was drawing me back to the story. I wanted yearning, playful banter, and desire, and I didn't get any of it.
I did this as an immersive read, both the audio and the ebook at the same time. The audio book was really well done, with the dual narrators and good pacing, but I still found I was lacking connection with the characters. At times I felt like we were repeating scenes to be able to get both points of view, and it made the story feel a little awkward. The break up was pointless and could have been a conversation, it really felt like the author just needed to include it for the trope. The story moved fast, from suddenly dating to quickly in love. And the spice scenes... written by a man for sure. They lacked all the luster that I have come to appreciate from female author.
I did appreciate the Nigerian fusion and felt it could have been integrated into the story a lot better and been something more meaningful for both the characters and the story.
Overall, this is a quick and easy read or listen for anyone that wants something low stakes and enjoyable, but it isn't something I found memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the audiobook and eBook.
I did this as an immersive read, both the audio and the ebook at the same time. The audio book was really well done, with the dual narrators and good pacing, but I still found I was lacking connection with the characters. At times I felt like we were repeating scenes to be able to get both points of view, and it made the story feel a little awkward. The break up was pointless and could have been a conversation, it really felt like the author just needed to include it for the trope. The story moved fast, from suddenly dating to quickly in love. And the spice scenes... written by a man for sure. They lacked all the luster that I have come to appreciate from female author.
I did appreciate the Nigerian fusion and felt it could have been integrated into the story a lot better and been something more meaningful for both the characters and the story.
Overall, this is a quick and easy read or listen for anyone that wants something low stakes and enjoyable, but it isn't something I found memorable.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the audiobook and eBook.
February 9, 2026
Review of *Not On the Menu*
by Eddy Twice
Narrated by Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, Millie Hearts
2.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Ed Fairbanks was not a great fit for the male lead—his narration style missed the mark and was noticeably overshadowed by the female performances.
The story itself was difficult to follow and lacked cohesion. Several elements felt underdeveloped, as if there was a checklist of tropes to include rather than a fully formed storyline to allow everything to flow naturally. The romance, in particular, was hard to invest in because too many pieces were missing.
There’s an age gap between the leads, but it’s never clearly defined. It’s also a best friend’s brother romance, though the friend has passed away. We’re told there’s a long shared history, yet there’s very little backstory to build the emotional layers needed to understand his love for her—or her investment in him. There’s even mention of her helping fund his restaurant, but when she discovers he knew it was her, she suddenly ghosts him, which felt confusing and hard to relate to.
Overall, the lack of emotional depth made it difficult for me to connect with the characters or the romance. This may work better for readers who prefer lighter stories without a strong focus on character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ALC.
by Eddy Twice
Narrated by Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, Millie Hearts
2.5⭐️ (rounded up)
Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. Ed Fairbanks was not a great fit for the male lead—his narration style missed the mark and was noticeably overshadowed by the female performances.
The story itself was difficult to follow and lacked cohesion. Several elements felt underdeveloped, as if there was a checklist of tropes to include rather than a fully formed storyline to allow everything to flow naturally. The romance, in particular, was hard to invest in because too many pieces were missing.
There’s an age gap between the leads, but it’s never clearly defined. It’s also a best friend’s brother romance, though the friend has passed away. We’re told there’s a long shared history, yet there’s very little backstory to build the emotional layers needed to understand his love for her—or her investment in him. There’s even mention of her helping fund his restaurant, but when she discovers he knew it was her, she suddenly ghosts him, which felt confusing and hard to relate to.
Overall, the lack of emotional depth made it difficult for me to connect with the characters or the romance. This may work better for readers who prefer lighter stories without a strong focus on character development.
Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the ALC.
March 4, 2026
Thank you for the ARC of Not on the Menu. I always appreciate the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite work for me. I found myself confused by several parts of the story and felt like there were too many plot holes that were never fully addressed. One of the biggest things that stood out was the lack of discussion about his sister—who is also Meghan’s best friend. Given how central that relationship should be to the situation between them, it felt strange that it was barely explored.
I was also left wondering about several details that never seemed to be clarified. What exactly was the age gap between them? What was Meghan doing before she suddenly decided to become a part-time photographer? And if she was clearly curious about his past relationships, why didn’t she ever actually ask him about them? Moments like these made the story feel incomplete.
The highlight of the audiobook for me was the dual narration, which is something I usually love in a romance. However, even the narration felt a bit inconsistent at times, which unfortunately made it harder to stay immersed in the story.
I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the ARC, but this book ultimately didn’t make much sense to me and left me with more questions than answers.
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite work for me. I found myself confused by several parts of the story and felt like there were too many plot holes that were never fully addressed. One of the biggest things that stood out was the lack of discussion about his sister—who is also Meghan’s best friend. Given how central that relationship should be to the situation between them, it felt strange that it was barely explored.
I was also left wondering about several details that never seemed to be clarified. What exactly was the age gap between them? What was Meghan doing before she suddenly decided to become a part-time photographer? And if she was clearly curious about his past relationships, why didn’t she ever actually ask him about them? Moments like these made the story feel incomplete.
The highlight of the audiobook for me was the dual narration, which is something I usually love in a romance. However, even the narration felt a bit inconsistent at times, which unfortunately made it harder to stay immersed in the story.
I appreciate the opportunity to listen to the ARC, but this book ultimately didn’t make much sense to me and left me with more questions than answers.
February 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC audiobook
I want to start off by saying some things I really enjoyed about this book
I really enjoyed both the main characters, sometimes when it comes to contemporary romance the main characters can be lacking or somewhat annoying but I didn’t feel that with this book.
I enjoyed the plot of the book and the overall connection with the characters.
I also really enjoyed that the author included recipes for the food featured in the book at the end.
I also loved both the narrators they both did such an amazing job with their characters.
Now there’s some things in this book that I want to point out that may deter some people from
There is a third act breakup and in my opinion I didn’t really like the reason for the breakup I thought it was a bit silly
The characters do I feel need to work on their communication as well, it wasn’t as major as some books but definitely noticeable.
Overall I want to say I did love this book it was a nice short read to help keep me from falling into a reading slump and I appreciated it. The author writes extremely well and discusses matters such as death and grief with grace. This book discusses serious issues even with relationships and for that I appreciate it.
I want to start off by saying some things I really enjoyed about this book
I really enjoyed both the main characters, sometimes when it comes to contemporary romance the main characters can be lacking or somewhat annoying but I didn’t feel that with this book.
I enjoyed the plot of the book and the overall connection with the characters.
I also really enjoyed that the author included recipes for the food featured in the book at the end.
I also loved both the narrators they both did such an amazing job with their characters.
Now there’s some things in this book that I want to point out that may deter some people from
There is a third act breakup and in my opinion I didn’t really like the reason for the breakup I thought it was a bit silly
The characters do I feel need to work on their communication as well, it wasn’t as major as some books but definitely noticeable.
Overall I want to say I did love this book it was a nice short read to help keep me from falling into a reading slump and I appreciated it. The author writes extremely well and discusses matters such as death and grief with grace. This book discusses serious issues even with relationships and for that I appreciate it.
March 5, 2026
🌶️🌶️.5
⭐️⭐️.5 - disjointed, confusing, yet predictable and cringy. Pacing was off and story was all over the place. Scenes repeated and the third-act breakup was the most pitiful excuse for a breakup. It was just flat and beyond boring for me.
- They texted “I love you” 2 days into dating for crying out loud.
- Mom is cold, but has a change of heart. Why? No one really knows.
- They brush hands and FMC’s all like “am I in love?”
- FMC “how dare you care about me enough to set aside money for me! I can’t trust you anymore since you didn’t tell me now that we’ve been together for a whole 48 hours! So I’m going to cold shoulder you for a month and dye my hair even though I realize after only a week that I’m the problem.”
Recording icks for the audiobook were a huge turn off for me as well. Mouth/background noises from the female narrator and I just didn’t vibe with the male narrator for this lead. His voice did nothing for my ovaries.
Tropes/TW:
Privileged photographer FMC x ex military chef MMC
BFF’s younger brother
Reverse age gap
He fell first
Childhood friends to lovers
Death/grief/illness
Thank you Eddy Twice and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
⭐️⭐️.5 - disjointed, confusing, yet predictable and cringy. Pacing was off and story was all over the place. Scenes repeated and the third-act breakup was the most pitiful excuse for a breakup. It was just flat and beyond boring for me.
- They texted “I love you” 2 days into dating for crying out loud.
- Mom is cold, but has a change of heart. Why? No one really knows.
- They brush hands and FMC’s all like “am I in love?”
- FMC “how dare you care about me enough to set aside money for me! I can’t trust you anymore since you didn’t tell me now that we’ve been together for a whole 48 hours! So I’m going to cold shoulder you for a month and dye my hair even though I realize after only a week that I’m the problem.”
Recording icks for the audiobook were a huge turn off for me as well. Mouth/background noises from the female narrator and I just didn’t vibe with the male narrator for this lead. His voice did nothing for my ovaries.
Tropes/TW:
Privileged photographer FMC x ex military chef MMC
BFF’s younger brother
Reverse age gap
He fell first
Childhood friends to lovers
Death/grief/illness
Thank you Eddy Twice and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.
*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2026
Book Review — Romance / Contemporary Romance
Just finished Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice
⭐ Star Rating: 4
This book felt like… realizing your harmless little crush might actually become a full emotional disaster.
I went into this expecting something light and cute, and honestly? That’s exactly what I got — with a little extra emotional tension mixed in.
Did I care about the characters? Definitely. The chemistry between them carried the whole story for me.
Tropes included: friend’s brother, younger man romance, forbidden feelings, slow-burn attraction, awkward tension, emotional denial.
These tropes made this ridiculously easy to binge.
The restaurant setting added such a cozy vibe while all the romantic tension simmered in the background.
Pacing? Steady, sweet, and full of those “oh no they’re catching feelings” moments.
This book made me feel: personally attacked by how relatable the emotional panic was.
And honestly, the internal denial?
“It’s not butterflies. It’s probably a stomach bug.”
Classic romance behavior.
Perfect for readers who love soft tension, complicated crushes, and romance that sneaks up on the characters before they’re ready for it.
Just finished Not on the Menu by Eddy Twice
⭐ Star Rating: 4
This book felt like… realizing your harmless little crush might actually become a full emotional disaster.
I went into this expecting something light and cute, and honestly? That’s exactly what I got — with a little extra emotional tension mixed in.
Did I care about the characters? Definitely. The chemistry between them carried the whole story for me.
Tropes included: friend’s brother, younger man romance, forbidden feelings, slow-burn attraction, awkward tension, emotional denial.
These tropes made this ridiculously easy to binge.
The restaurant setting added such a cozy vibe while all the romantic tension simmered in the background.
Pacing? Steady, sweet, and full of those “oh no they’re catching feelings” moments.
This book made me feel: personally attacked by how relatable the emotional panic was.
And honestly, the internal denial?
“It’s not butterflies. It’s probably a stomach bug.”
Classic romance behavior.
Perfect for readers who love soft tension, complicated crushes, and romance that sneaks up on the characters before they’re ready for it.
June 29, 2026
If I were rating this book solely on the character of Zik, it would easily be a 5/5. He is incredibly relatable, and his journey is heart-wrenching—especially in Chapter 37, when he visits his sister’s grave and admits, "I'm sorry I never cried publicly when you left. I'm sorry I kept trying to prove I was strong. I didn't want to disappoint you. I thought that if I kept working, kept moving, it would mean something."
However, I struggled to connect with his love interest, Megan. While I have personally experienced the grief of losing one of my favorite people to cancer and understand that grief is rarely a straight line, I found Megan’s character to be frustratingly self-centered, especially in contrast to Zik’s supportive and loving nature. Her internal monologue often missed the mark for me, such as in Chapter 36: "Wow, time flies when you're home all day thinking about a man you want to be with but, for some reason, are trying to stay away from."
Overall, this is a cute story with many moving pieces and some insightful one-liners about love. I do think the emotional impact would have been stronger had the plot started a few weeks earlier, which would have allowed for more time with the secondary characters who were so central to the emotional stakes of the story.
However, I struggled to connect with his love interest, Megan. While I have personally experienced the grief of losing one of my favorite people to cancer and understand that grief is rarely a straight line, I found Megan’s character to be frustratingly self-centered, especially in contrast to Zik’s supportive and loving nature. Her internal monologue often missed the mark for me, such as in Chapter 36: "Wow, time flies when you're home all day thinking about a man you want to be with but, for some reason, are trying to stay away from."
Overall, this is a cute story with many moving pieces and some insightful one-liners about love. I do think the emotional impact would have been stronger had the plot started a few weeks earlier, which would have allowed for more time with the secondary characters who were so central to the emotional stakes of the story.
February 11, 2026
I was so kindly sent the ALC for this from NetGalley however it just didn’t get me the way I wanted it to. I really wanted to love this story and I maybe would have if I had physically read it however the narration was off for me and at times was really distracting from the story. The story itself was nice and had a few parts I enjoyed however those were the points I wanted more detail and depth than was provided and at other points it fell a bit flat. I’m a big audiobook girlie but I just didn’t feel like for me personally, the voices matched the characters (mainly Zik) and some of the voices/accents at bits were really odd and distracting. I think if this isn’t something that bothers you then you’d definitely enjoy the story more than I did, I just couldn’t see past it unfortunately! The chapter breaks at times also felt like they were in the middle of a story so felt a bit disjointed when the story broke then restarted again right away, I feel the chapters could have been longer/merged to avoid this.
As a story it has real potential but for me the narration was just too distracting unfortunately.
As a story it has real potential but for me the narration was just too distracting unfortunately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2026
🎧 Audio book review
Thank you to @victoryediting and @netgally for this ALC in exchange for a honest review!
Not on the menu by Eddy Twice
Narrated by Maeve Brady, Ed. Fairbanks, and Millie Hearts
Pub date- Out Now!!
3.5 ⭐️
This was a quick, fun read that I really enjoyed for what it was. The characters were engaging, and I especially loved that the MMC was a chef, it added such a unique and entertaining element to the story. One of my favorite touches was that the audiobook included recipes inspired by the book at the end, which I thought was really cool. I enjoyed the female narrators a lot, though the male narrator wasn’t my personal favorite. Overall, if you’re looking for something light, easy, and enjoyable, this is definitely worth picking up
📸 Friends to lovers
🧑🍳 Best friends brother
📸 Journey of loss
🧑🍳Layers of healing
📸Photographer FMC
🧑🍳 Chef MMC
Romance with Zik was definitely not on the menu. Perfectly plated dishes? Yes. Butterflies, lingering looks, and replaying moments on a loop? Absolutely not. And especially not romance with my friend’s brother, or a younger guy. So why did my stomach suddenly feel off? It had to be a stomach bug… right?
April 14, 2026
Story 2.5/5
Spice 2.5/5
Audiobook Narration 2.5/5
Tropes: Best Friend's Brother, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Greif, Chef x Photographer, Its Always Been You
I received an ALC of the audiobook through NetGalley, I found the description intriguing and I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, this book just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. I didn't find myself emotionally invested with either of the main characters. I considered DNFing this multiple times, but I powered through because it was an ALC.
There were a few moments that piqued my interest, and then lost it. What it really came down to for me is that the story was not ready to be published. There were craft issues in this book that I teach my middle school students to avoid. I think if this book had gone through more beta reading and story editing it could have been good - the premise was there!
The quality of the audiobook was also disappointing, the recording quality was inconsistent throughout the book. I think that editing was also rushed as there were multiple instances of lines being repeated. Personally, I was not a fan of the male narrator's voice either.
Spice 2.5/5
Audiobook Narration 2.5/5
Tropes: Best Friend's Brother, Childhood Friends to Lovers, Greif, Chef x Photographer, Its Always Been You
I received an ALC of the audiobook through NetGalley, I found the description intriguing and I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, this book just didn't hit the way I wanted it to. I didn't find myself emotionally invested with either of the main characters. I considered DNFing this multiple times, but I powered through because it was an ALC.
There were a few moments that piqued my interest, and then lost it. What it really came down to for me is that the story was not ready to be published. There were craft issues in this book that I teach my middle school students to avoid. I think if this book had gone through more beta reading and story editing it could have been good - the premise was there!
The quality of the audiobook was also disappointing, the recording quality was inconsistent throughout the book. I think that editing was also rushed as there were multiple instances of lines being repeated. Personally, I was not a fan of the male narrator's voice either.
April 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a cute, easy listen. It’s a friend’s brother and reverse age gap romance, which is one of my favorite tropes when it’s well done. The pacing felt a little quick in spots, and I wanted a bit more of that slow burn tension before they finally gave in, but the chemistry was definitely there. The whole is it love or a stomach bug internal monologue was relatable and actually made me laugh out loud a few times.
What I truly enjoyed was the narration. The narrators Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, and Millie Hearts were fantastic. They did a great job making the characters feel relatable and grounded. Maeve captured that I’m trying so hard to be professional and failing energy perfectly, and Ed/Millie really brought the rest of the cast to life. It’s one of those audiobooks where you can tell the narrators actually get the tone of the story.
If you’re looking for a easy listen, sweet romance this is the audiobook for you. I’m right between a 3 and a 4 on this one, so let’s call it a 3.75 stars.
#NotOntheMenu, #EddyTwice, #RomanceAudiobooks, #NetGalley
This was such a cute, easy listen. It’s a friend’s brother and reverse age gap romance, which is one of my favorite tropes when it’s well done. The pacing felt a little quick in spots, and I wanted a bit more of that slow burn tension before they finally gave in, but the chemistry was definitely there. The whole is it love or a stomach bug internal monologue was relatable and actually made me laugh out loud a few times.
What I truly enjoyed was the narration. The narrators Maeve Brady, Ed Fairbanks, and Millie Hearts were fantastic. They did a great job making the characters feel relatable and grounded. Maeve captured that I’m trying so hard to be professional and failing energy perfectly, and Ed/Millie really brought the rest of the cast to life. It’s one of those audiobooks where you can tell the narrators actually get the tone of the story.
If you’re looking for a easy listen, sweet romance this is the audiobook for you. I’m right between a 3 and a 4 on this one, so let’s call it a 3.75 stars.
#NotOntheMenu, #EddyTwice, #RomanceAudiobooks, #NetGalley
February 6, 2026
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ALC!
This was a sweet story overall - the narration was not the best for me personally; I found the pacing of it to be a bit disjointed at times with how fast/slow the narrators would speak and sometimes there would be too long a pause between that I would question if I'd accidentally turned the audio off somehow.
Aside from that, I do think this was a good story - it felt quite average to me, in the sense that nothing about the storyline really stood out or gripped me. The third act conflict/breakup felt a bit unnecessary to me, and I would've liked to see a bit more discussion and resolution with Megan and her parents - it felt like that all got sorted out very easily but also like we didn't see any of it happen.
Megan and Zik had good chemistry and I was surprised by the fact that Zik's sister and Megan's best friend had passed away - it brought a bit more of an interesting element to the traditional 'best friends brother' trope.
This was a sweet story overall - the narration was not the best for me personally; I found the pacing of it to be a bit disjointed at times with how fast/slow the narrators would speak and sometimes there would be too long a pause between that I would question if I'd accidentally turned the audio off somehow.
Aside from that, I do think this was a good story - it felt quite average to me, in the sense that nothing about the storyline really stood out or gripped me. The third act conflict/breakup felt a bit unnecessary to me, and I would've liked to see a bit more discussion and resolution with Megan and her parents - it felt like that all got sorted out very easily but also like we didn't see any of it happen.
Megan and Zik had good chemistry and I was surprised by the fact that Zik's sister and Megan's best friend had passed away - it brought a bit more of an interesting element to the traditional 'best friends brother' trope.
February 8, 2026
Thank you Net Galley and Victory editing for an audio ARC of this title!
This was a quick and easy listen, and makes a nice palate cleanser if you feel like you’ve been reading books that are heavy, dark, or intense. The story features a FMC who returns home after the death of her best friend, in order to help said friend’s brother with photography for his up and coming restaurant. She realizes that while love with her best friend’s little brother was “not on the menu”, she’s loved Zeke for longer than she has realized.
This book had a great base of ideas: finding love with someone who has felt off limits because of other relationships, realizing that person has always felt like home, a complicated parent dynamic adding external pressure to that relationship…lots to work with! For me, this book failed to get the 5th star because all of these ideas needed to be teased out just a little more in order to stick with me and leave a lasting impression. Overall I enjoyed this book, but if you ask me a month from now I likely will not remember the plot.
This was a quick and easy listen, and makes a nice palate cleanser if you feel like you’ve been reading books that are heavy, dark, or intense. The story features a FMC who returns home after the death of her best friend, in order to help said friend’s brother with photography for his up and coming restaurant. She realizes that while love with her best friend’s little brother was “not on the menu”, she’s loved Zeke for longer than she has realized.
This book had a great base of ideas: finding love with someone who has felt off limits because of other relationships, realizing that person has always felt like home, a complicated parent dynamic adding external pressure to that relationship…lots to work with! For me, this book failed to get the 5th star because all of these ideas needed to be teased out just a little more in order to stick with me and leave a lasting impression. Overall I enjoyed this book, but if you ask me a month from now I likely will not remember the plot.
April 8, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I love dual narration books. However, I’m not a fan of these narrators. The male narrator had a very one tone feel. The female narrator was better but sounded younger than what I thought the character should sound.
I love the best friend’s brother trope of the story, but it just felt a bit off for me. I’m not sure if it’s the ages of the characters or maybe just their personalities. We have a younger man that owns a restaurant, but has no experience in love. An older (by a few years?) woman with snobby parents. How did she even become friends with the sister with parents like that? I think I need more backstory for the details to connect.
I appreciate the recipes at the end of the book, but I don’t feel like the dishes were mentioned enough to really warrant the recipes.
Overall, the story was fine, but forgettable. I don’t think that I’ll be recommending this one to friends, but I’m sure someone will love it.
I love dual narration books. However, I’m not a fan of these narrators. The male narrator had a very one tone feel. The female narrator was better but sounded younger than what I thought the character should sound.
I love the best friend’s brother trope of the story, but it just felt a bit off for me. I’m not sure if it’s the ages of the characters or maybe just their personalities. We have a younger man that owns a restaurant, but has no experience in love. An older (by a few years?) woman with snobby parents. How did she even become friends with the sister with parents like that? I think I need more backstory for the details to connect.
I appreciate the recipes at the end of the book, but I don’t feel like the dishes were mentioned enough to really warrant the recipes.
Overall, the story was fine, but forgettable. I don’t think that I’ll be recommending this one to friends, but I’m sure someone will love it.
February 13, 2026
This is definitely a fast paced cute read! I did wish the storyline flowed better and it was clearer when we were in present vs past tense, but the dual POV was nice.
Zik has been in love with his sister's best friend for years. However, both him and Megan are grieving Zik's sister's death. They have been in each other's lives since childhood, and supported each other but their bond has never crossed that line. I appreciate how open Zik was to Megan about his feelings, but in a blink they were saying I Love You and the very next chapter is the third act break up.
I do appreciate the growth Megan had, but poor Zik was so supportive of her and her family the entire time.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for this audio review. I am an avid audiobook listener, and this is one occasion where I feel the narration took away from the book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read.
Zik has been in love with his sister's best friend for years. However, both him and Megan are grieving Zik's sister's death. They have been in each other's lives since childhood, and supported each other but their bond has never crossed that line. I appreciate how open Zik was to Megan about his feelings, but in a blink they were saying I Love You and the very next chapter is the third act break up.
I do appreciate the growth Megan had, but poor Zik was so supportive of her and her family the entire time.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publishers for this audio review. I am an avid audiobook listener, and this is one occasion where I feel the narration took away from the book.
Overall, this was an enjoyable quick read.
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